Louisiana Music Factory Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Louisiana Music Factory celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, February 25th. The record store that has become a destination for music lovers from New Orleans and around the world hosted six hours of in-store performances to a full house of fans.

Kermit Ruffins kicked it off, followed by John Boutte, Little Freddie King, Stooges Brass Band, Cyril Neville & Friends, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Tao Seeger. Master of Ceremonies John Sinclair kept the show rolling.

Special thanks to Music Factory founder Jerry Brock, owner Barry Smith, and everyone at the store for their dedication to Louisiana music. Over the last 20 years, they have become an integral part of New Orleans’ musical infrastructure, and are deeply appreciated by musicians and customers everywhere.

And for those of you who have not ever been to Louisiana Music Factory, located at 225 Decatur Street, across from The House of Blues in the French Quarter, treat yourself to a trip to stock up on your favorite records, or to enjoy in-store performances by many of our local musicians. Like the WWOZ Livewire says, "go out, support, and enjoy some live local music!"

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French Quarter Fest is rapidly approaching; this year's festival will be happening from Thursday, April 9 to Sunday April 12. WWOZ will be there broadcasting live for those of you who can't make it in person.

With less than three weeks to go, check out these lesser-known facts about one of New Orleans' biggest and fastest growing festivals:

Here's Walter "Wolfman" Washington in a beautifully shot live performance from last July's North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. The YouTube poster mistakenly identifies the song as "Funk Is in the House"; it's actually a cover of the Tyrone Davis hit "Can I Change My Mind", which went to #1 on Billboard's R&B charts in February 1969.

Muddy Waters performs "I'll Put A Tiger In Your Tank" live at the Newport Jazz Festival in July 1960, one of three Willie Dixon songs he performed that day (the others were "I Got My Brand on You" and "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man").

The famous Music Box is taking a ride--or an airlift, to be more precise. The interactive kinetic musical structures are on the move! The musical houses will be landing at various sites around New Orleans for the rest of the year, hosting performances, artist talks, educational workshops, and free hours where members of the public can play and interact with the structural instruments.